Emerson Begolly Accused Of Violence Toward Pittsburgh Federal Agents

An Allegheny County man accused of biting two FBI agents will remain in custody after a federal judge heard testimony that the man communicated online with at least two other people accused of terror-related charges.

A federal district judge on Thursday ordered 21-year-old Emerson Begolly detained on charges he bit the agents while they wrestled for his loaded gun on Jan. 4. The agents were investigating Begolly for allegedly making pro-terrorist statements online.

David Hickton, the U.S. Attorney for western Pennsylvania, and Michael Rodriguez, special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh FBI office, were among those who attended Begolly's detention hearing Thursday.

In court, prosecutors said that Begolly, of Harrison Township, had communicated with two other Americans who drew the attention of law enforcement: Colleen LaRose and Zachary Chesser.

Rose, dubbed "Jihad Jane," is accused of helping foreign terror suspects intent on starting a holy war. Chesser has pleaded guilty to threatening the creators of "South Park" for perceived insults to the prophet Muhammad.

Team 4 investigator Paul Van Osdol reported that prosecutors showed videos in court of Begolly shooting an AK-47 at his father's property. The prosecutor said Begolly slept with a loaded weapon under his pillow and had deadly intentions.

Van Osdol reported that prosecutors were disturbed by videos showing Begolly approaching an airfield and watching planes take off and land, and by these statements that they said he posted on Jihadist websites:

"When I wake up in the morning the first thing I think about is killing. Seriously I think about killing all the time."

"Why terrorize the average Americans? Because Allah commands us to terrorize them."

"I would make Waco look like a tea party."

At a previous hearing last week, the FBI said Begolly is known on many websites as "Asadullah Alshishani" and they were attempting to serve search warrants for some of his web postings when he allegedly bit two agents who approached him in a car outside a New Bethlehem fast-food restaurant.

Begolly is charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers and with possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Those charges are not related to any of his online activity.

Begolly's attorney said she will appeal the judge's decision to keep him in jail until trial. She said he had not broken any laws by using guns or posting inflammatory statements.